Wednesday, May 18, 2022
manilastandard.net
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
manilastandard.net
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion Columns About Town by Ernesto M. Hilario

Automated polls prove their worth once again

Ernesto M. HilariobyErnesto M. Hilario
May 13, 2022, 12:30 am
in About Town by Ernesto M. Hilario, Columns, Opinion
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
311
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Email

“The truth will have its day.”

Although 107,000 of the Vote Counting Machines (VCMs) performed flawlessly, during the early hours of voting on May 9, media focused its attention on the 200 or only 0.0018 percent of the total number of VCMs that were reporting issues. The juicy story of the failing VCMs gathered momentum on social media just as most negative stories do.

However, another more interesting story passed seemingly unnoticed. Faced with the choice between going home or waiting for the machines to start working, voters were refusing to surrender their ballots to poll workers. They preferred to wait as long as it was necessary until they could feed the VCM with their marked ballot themselves.

The real story here speaks of an electorate that has come to appreciate the vote counting machines and the Automated Election System (AES). Memories of a distant past, when voters went home without knowing if their vote would be tallied, may have played a role.

With the May 9 election already in the rear mirror, it’s important to reflect on the evolution of election administration in the Philippines. Despite the media noise, amplified by diligent citizens reporting on social media any minor issue, the truth is that the deployment of the AES continues to improve with each election.

Vote after vote, the learning curve is leading to greater efficiency and transparency. In these 2022 general elections, 99.9982 percent of the VCMs performed flawlessly. Results were published online shortly after polls close. On election night, transmission reached more than 85 percent of election returns, a remarkable feat that puts the Philippines in a league of its own in the region. The evolution of election administration in the country is unquestionable, no matter what key performance indicator is measured.

ADVERTISEMENT

Statistics teach us that two data points are not a trend. The successful completion of our fifth national election is an unequivocal confirmation that automation has drastically transformed Philippine elections.

Historically, Philippine elections were marred with fraud. For years, the country struggled to conduct free and fair elections. Each new election cycle was marked by electoral violence, contested results, a slow vote count, and widespread distrust.

After monitoring an election in 2004, the International Foundation for Election Systems wrote: “The Philippine elections are marred by allegations of cheating and fraud. This fundamentally undermines not only the credibility of election administration, but also the legitimacy of the elected institutions of the state.”

The AES has drastically improved election administration in the Philippines since it was first implemented in 2010. Vote after vote, with faster election results, and an accurate, transparent count has enabled Filipinos to trust their elections. This is probably why, according to a Pulse Asia survey conducted after the previous national election, 9 in 10 voters want their future elections automated.

2010 marked a turning point. From that election on, the country has consistently improved all election metrics. The 2022 election, with results available on election night and peaceful acceptance of results by the overwhelming majority of candidates will mark yet a new, positive milestone in the history of Philippine elections.

Akbayan speaks up on DQ ruling

We got this statement from Akbayan partylist last May 10 via email and want to share this with our readers for what it’s worth:

“The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc’s decision to deny the disqualification petition that we filed against Bongbong Marcos Jr. is a catastrophe for the country’s electoral democracy. It is both a colossal and institutional failure on the part of the Comelec to safeguard our electoral system from an unqualified candidate, a plunderer and convicted tax evader. It has undermined to the core the sanctity and integrity of our elections by throwing established rules out the window, and opening the doors wide open for all corrupt and criminal politician-wannabes to make a mockery of our electoral exercise.

“While the decision is expected, its massive repercussions on our democracy cannot be discounted. What started as an opportunity for the Comelec to uphold our election laws and strengthen our institutions has ended in a twisted tale of farce. The penalty for tax evasion is perpetual disqualification. This is as clear as day. All the Comelec had to do was follow through. Instead, the Comelec has failed the test of integrity and consistency.

“This setback does not discourage us however. In fact, it strengthens our resolve and conviction to move forward. There are other legal paths open to us.

“Akbayan will appeal this case to the Supreme Court. We will pursue this case to its logical and just conclusion. We know that the law is on our side. We will not allow Marcos Jr. to sleep soundly. For there can be no rest for the wicked. And if the lessons of history have taught us anything, it is that the moral arc of the universe bends towards justice. All liars are exposed eventually, and the truth will have its day.” (Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)

Tags: 2022 electionsautomated election systemErnesto HilarioVCMsVote counting machines
ADVERTISEMENT
Ernesto M. Hilario

Ernesto M. Hilario

Related Posts

The sin of low wages

byManila Standard
May 18, 2022, 12:15 am
0
134
The sin of low wages

This week’s announcement of a paltry P33 increase in the minimum wage in Metro Manila confirmed what we gathered from...

Read more

The 6Gs of PH elections

byErnesto M. Hilario
May 18, 2022, 12:10 am
0
153
Denying Villafuerte justice

"Guns, goons, gold, glitter, guile, greed" If politics is defined as the art of expanding the limits of the possible,...

Read more

The new Manny Villar

byTony Lopez
May 18, 2022, 12:05 am
0
152
UnionBank buys Citibank’s local business

"Go head-to-head and toe-to-toe against the biggest and oldest company in the business." This year, Manuel B. Villar Jr. did...

Read more

How world’s most precise clock could transform fundamental physics

byAFP
May 18, 2022, 12:00 am
0
139
Southwoods nails Seniors’ Fil golf crown

"Clocks tick at different rates when separated by fractions of a millimeter." By Issam Ahmed US scientists have measured Albert...

Read more

COVID remains

byManila Standard
May 17, 2022, 12:15 am
0
162
COVID remains

We have to wait a few more days to know whether there indeed was an uptick in the number of...

Read more

Is Robredo plotting something?

byEmil Jurado
May 17, 2022, 12:10 am
0
797
Denying Villafuerte justice

"And is it crazy, stupid or evil?" The continued mass gathering and protest rallies of the Yellows turned “Pinkos” together...

Read more

Stories you may like

  • Ex-Naga dad links Leni’s brother-in-law to illegal drugs

    Ex-Naga dad links Leni’s brother-in-law to illegal drugs

    35764 shares
    Share 14306 Tweet 8941
  • Of course, it was BBM’s project

    30171 shares
    Share 12068 Tweet 7543
  • INC endorses BBM, Sara

    28655 shares
    Share 11462 Tweet 7164
  • Duterte’s seven biggest achievements

    17816 shares
    Share 7126 Tweet 4454
  • Marcos leads SWS survey on presidentiables at 50%

    13535 shares
    Share 5414 Tweet 3384

Print Edition

View More

Recent Posts

  • Sneakers for Makati : AB4.0
  • Congress set to canvass votes
  • Laguesma, Ople tapped to head labor, migrant workers’ portfolios
  • Sara hands-off on appointments
  • New law gives honorarium to SK members
  • Cray paces paltry 4-gold haul, PH still 3rd in SEAG
  • Speaker Velasco backs Romualdez as his successor
  • ‘Best AFP officers for highest posts’

Advertisement

Latest News

Cray paces paltry 4-gold haul, PH still 3rd in SEAG

byRiera U. Mallari
May 18, 2022, 1:10 am
0
142
Speaker Velasco backs Romualdez as his successor

Hanoi—Ageless runner Eric Cray, cue artist Rubilen Amit, taekwondo jin Kurt Barbosa, and a muay thai duo saved the day...

Read more

Speaker Velasco backs Romualdez as his successor

byMaricel Cruz
May 18, 2022, 1:00 am
0
146
Speaker Velasco backs Romualdez as his successor

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco on Tuesday endorsed House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez as his successor...

Read more

‘Best AFP officers for highest posts’

byMacon Ramos-Araneta
May 18, 2022, 12:40 am
0
163
Vax wastage, infection surge feared in Odette-hit areas

With Republic Act 11709 officially a law, only the best officers in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) can...

Read more

Transmission of Omicron variant confirmed—DOH

byWillie Casas
May 18, 2022, 12:30 am
0
137
BBM, Sara to resume stumping together; Bicol groups back UniTeam

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday said it has detected local transmission of the COVID-19 Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 as...

Read more

‘Foundlings’ law, 3 others signed by President

byVito Barcelo
May 18, 2022, 12:20 am
0
149
DOLE 9 joins Duterte Legacy: Barangayanihan Caravan in Dipolog City

President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law recognizing abandoned children found in the country or in Philippine embassies and consulates...

Read more

Advertisement

ADVERTISEMENT
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

ABOUT US

Manila Standard

Manila Standard website (manilastandard.net), launched in August 2002, extends the newspaper’s reach beyond its traditional readers and makes its brand of Philippine news and opinion available to a much wider and geographically diverse readership here and overseas.

Digital Edition

In tone and content, the online edition mirrors the editorial thrust of the newspaper. While hewing to the traditional precepts of fairness and objectivity, MS believes the news of the day need not be staid, overly long or dry. Stories are succinct, readable and written in a lively style that has become a hallmark of the newspaper.

Download – Today’s Paper

Search

No Result
View All Result

6th Floor Universal Re Bldg., 106 Paseo De Roxas cor. Perea Street, Legaspi Village, 1226 Makati City Philippines

Trunklines: 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Pop.Life
    • Newsmakers
    • Hangouts
    • A-Pop
    • Post Its
    • Performances
    • Malls & Bazaars
    • Hobbies & Collections
  • Technology
    • Gadgets
    • Computers
    • Business
    • Tech Plus
  • MS ON THE ROAD
    • Sedan
    • SUV
    • Truck
    • Bike
    • Accessories
    • Motoring Plus
    • Commuter’s Corner
  • Home & Design
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Construction
    • Interior
  • Spotlight
  • Gallery
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • Events
    • Seminars
    • Exhibits
    • Community
  • Biyahero
    • Travel Features
    • Travel Reels
    • Travel Logs
  • Pets
  • Advertise with Us

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Install Manila Standard Web App

Install App